MSO10426 - St Nicholas Church, Porlock Weir, Porlock (Building)

Summary

A typical "tin tabernacle" church, built c.1880. It has a small gabled porch, tiny belfry and smallscale pointed arch windows.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

'St Nicholas's Church' shown on Ordnance Survey map of c1904. [1] The church is also shows on the late 19th Century 1st ed. Ordnance Survey map. [2] Church extant. [3] Constructed of corrugated tin. Roof painted black and body white. [4] In a raised position approached by slate-surfaced steps is St. Nicholas’s Church, a typical “tin tabernacle” of c. 1880. The current Chapel of Ease is a good example of a “tin tabernacle” probably dating from the late 19th century, and little altered. There is increasing interest in buildings of this type, as evidenced by a dedicated website (www.tintabernacles.com). This example has a small gabled porch, tiny belfry and smallscale pointed arch windows. [5] Additional bibliography. [6] The site is mentioned and photographs are available on a blog article dated 2018. [7] The building is mentioned in the 2022 Conservation Area Appraisal for Porlock Weir. It states that "most of these buildings arrived in pre-fabricated kit form and were shipped throughout the Empire - this example almost certainly came in by sea." [8] The heritage asset was assessed for inclusion on the Exmoor Local Heritage List in November 2022. It was decided to add the asset to the Local Heritage List. [9]

Sources/Archives (9)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. c.1904. 1:2500 map, second edition.
  • <2> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1854-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.
  • <3> Map: Ordnance Survey. 2005. Landline Information.
  • <4> Verbal communication: Various. 1900-. Somerset County Council / South West Heritage Trust staff comments. Talya Bagwell, Somerset Historic Environment Record, 2 December 2005.
  • <5> Report: Fisher, J.. 2004. Porlock Weir: Conservation Area Character Appraisal. Exmoor National Park Authority. p6, 7, 14.
  • <6> Article on website: Historic England. 2022. What is a Tin Tabernacle?. The Historic England Blog.
  • <7> Article on website: [Username: St Kilda]. 2018. Tin Tabernacles. Off the Beaten Track in Somerset.
  • <8> Report: Pratt, N. and Thurlow, T.. 2022. Porlock Weir Conservation Area: Appraisal document. Exmoor National Park Authority. p 6, 24, 53, Figure 27.
  • <9> Unpublished document: Dove, C.. 2022. Exmoor LHL Panel Meeting 28 November 2022. Exmoor National Park Authority.

External Links (2)

Other Statuses/References

  • Church Heritage Record ID: 601476
  • Local Heritage List Status (Listed)
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • Somerset SMR PRN: 19368

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 2865 1477 (14m by 13m)
Map sheet SS21SE
Civil Parish PORLOCK, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Dec 13 2023 2:46PM

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